HONG KONG: It's action stations Filmart at the first Entertainment Expo Hong Kong (which runs from 22 March to 6 April).
Season Nine of Filmart, Asia's biggest exposition for film, TV and multi-media trade organised by the Trade Development Council (TDC), is the main draw event of Entertainment Expo, the inaugural edition of which has seven other major activities running simultaneously.
But it is Filmart, TDC's business-to-business industry platform, that continues to grab the most attention, what with the attendance this year surpassing last year's turnout by a long way.
2,400 buyers, 350 exhibitors (up from 2286 and 304 respectively in 2004) do not quite give a full picture of the kind of activity that is going on at Filmart, where deals are being struck in chance meetings, at the various stalls and even over meals in the many eateries that dot the exhibition centre.
Entertainment Expo was inaugurated by acting chief executive Donald Tsang at a gala event last evening attended by more than 1,000 film and entertainment industry leaders, including Chinese super stars Tony Leung and Jackie Chan.
The eight events are:
FILMART, Asia's biggest exposition for film, TV and multi-media trade, organised for the 9th year by the Trade Development Council (TDC)
The Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum, a business platform for Asia's filmmakers, investors, producers, distributors and sales agents, jointly organised by TDC and the Motion Picture Industry Association Ltd.
The Hong Kong International Film Festival, a rich offering of Hong Kong, Asian and international films, organised by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society.
The Hong Kong Film Awards organised by the Hong Kong Film Awards Association.
The Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Excellence Awards, a tribute to Hong Kong's top companies and best brains in the digital technology business.
The Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum.
The IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Awards which highlight Asia's biggest money-earning songs and singers; organised by IFPI (Hong Kong Group) Ltd.
Hong Kong Independent Film & Short Video Awards organised by the Hong Kong Arts Centre.
With the Expo approach, Hong Kong aims to capitalize on the synergies between these events and to make a bigger impact. Formerly, most of the eight events were scattered through the year.
Over the next two weeks, there will be more than 200 screenings of films from all over the world.
TDC chairman Peter Woo sees Hong Kong at the right place and right time for Entertainment Expo, as the city has exceptional reach towards a growing China, a growing Southeast Asia and an affluent Northeast Asia.
